Page 91 of Retribution
“Yeah. Let’s get going.” He untangled his arms around her then pushed up. “Where do you wanna go for dinner? I’ve got a hankering for fish tacos.”
Dakota got up, brushed the sand from her shorts, and leaned into him. “I’d rather stay home tonight—I’m beat.” She stood on her tiptoes and brushed her mouth across his collarbone. “I can make you some real mean tacos.”
“Fuck, darlin’.” Cobra gently tugged her hair so her head tilted back then he kissed her. “You make the dinner and I’ll provide the dessert.” He winked and squeezed her ass.
She playfully smacked his chest then pulled away and slung her tote over her shoulder. He grabbed her hand and they made their way up the steep stairs to the parking lot.
The lights of the marina twinkled through the darkness, their reflection dancing and shimmering on the inky surface of the rippling water. The town’s lights stretched out along the southeastern shore, its streetlights and lit restaurant windows glowed a dim, golden hue in the clear night air.
Above the clatter of pots and pans and the din of loud voices, sail ropes snapped against their masts and docked boats creaked as they swayed gently against their moorings. Cobra and Dakota’s footsteps echoed hollowly up the aluminum dock as they hurried to the forty-four foot trawler they were renting.
The boat had a kitchen, a living space with a full-sized couch, two full bathrooms, a large bedroom and a small spare room. During the warm days and nights, they spent most of their time out on the mid-deck of the trawler, but on chilly nights, they cuddled on the couch in the living room in front of the space heater and watched movies on the thirty-two inch television.
After changing into sweatpants and a white T-shirt, Cobra joined Dakota out on the deck and handed her a glass of red wine. Since they’d been in Bodega Bay, they’d taken many small trips to Napa Valley exploring the lush countryside and vineyards. It was during one of their trips to a winery in Yountville that both he and Dakota discovered how much they enjoyed drinking red wine. Prior to coming to the area, Cobra never would’ve considered trying wine—he’d always been a beer and hard liquor sort of guy.
He sat down beside her and slipped his arm around her shoulders and she leaned into him. They sipped the wine and stared at the stars sparkling against the darkened sky.
“I made twenty sales today,” Dakota said as she put her glass down on the small table in front of them.
Before they’d left Philipsburg for Bodega Bay, Dakota had designed a website to see if she could sell any of her tattoo designs. The site had a ton of information about the art of tattooing, whether a person should or shouldn’t get a tattoo, a lot of funny anecdotes, and a hell of a lot of pictures along with her cutting edge designs. It seemed that her online business was starting to pick up, and a local journalist asked if he could do a story about her in the regional newspaper.
“That’s great, darlin’.” Cobra gently stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers.
“I’m so excited. I can’t believe people want to buy stuff from me—it’s too cool.” She brought the glass to her lips.
“You’re a kickass artist. You got a real talent. The great thing is you can make money no matter where we are.”
“I’d love to be able to make enough money so that’s all I have to do. I could then start selling other related products and make a commission if someone buys them. The sky’s the limit.”
“It is—you can do whatever you put your mind to, sweetheart.”
“Thanks for your support.” Dakota looped her arm around his neck and kissed him.
“You’ll always have it—you know that.” Cobra took another drink of wine. “Fuck, this is real good. We gotta go back to that winery and pick up another case. My brothers would shit a brick if they saw me sipping wine.” He chuckled.
Dakota joined in laughing. “Now I have something on you whenever we go to Missoula. I’d really like to see the clubhouse and meet all the guys.”
“You will.”
“And I’m ready to go back to the vineyard when you are. I love driving through all the rolling hills and winding roads through the countryside. It’s so beautiful.”
“Yeah. Maybe we can head over there next Tuesday.” Cobra had worked it so he had the same days off as Dakota even though it meant he only worked four days a week instead of five. He didn’t mind because the pay was good and it gave him more time with the woman who’d stolen his heart and blew his world apart in the best fucking way.
“I’m in. Oh … I talked to my mom today.”
“Oh yeah? How’s everything?”
Dakota nodded. “Good. You know, I really miss my parents. It’s been over a year since I’ve seen them.”
“We can make a stop in Pocatello when we head out in the late spring for the New England states.”
“I’d love that! I’ll call my mom and tell her tomorrow. She’ll be so happy. I’m looking forward to seeing my sister and her new baby, and of course my brothers. Oh … I forgot to tell you about Taylor—he’s missing. It’s the damnedest thing.”
Cobra drained his glass then leaned over and poured some more wine in it. “Hmm …”
“Luke told me. Taylor hasn’t contacted my brother in over five months. His parents haven’t heard from him either. It’s strange. I wonder if he just decided to take off and start over.”
“Probably pissed the fuck outta some dude by messing with his woman. Guys like that asshole usually end up paying for what they do. Now you don’t have to worry about him anymore.” Cobra shifted a little and plopped his feet up on the table, crossing his legs at the ankles.
